Opening Up A Restaurant

A lot of people have absolutely no idea what goes behind opening up a restaurant or any business for that matter. It's exhausting. Especially at this point in the venture. The construction crew have to do their thing, the air conditioner guy does his, the kitchen equipment have to do theirs, the hood and vent people have their job to do, there is the electrician, the plumbers. There is the stereo guy and the exterminator. The cook, the vendors, the selection and purchase of furniture, lights, fans, flooring, paints and sign. There are times when some things get placed on the back burner because others are more pressing and then there are times when you have to juggle them all at one time.

I never gave it any thought how much is involved in opening up a restaurant. One day there would be an empty space on some street I'd frequently pass and then all of sudden it would seem like a restaurant just opened up. I'd be hard pressed to tell you that I just opened up a restaurant when we do open. We have been opening up this restaurant since January of 2003. It's a long story of an arduous journey we'll tell you all about some day. But let me tell you: opening up a restaurant is a LOT of work.

Having A Restaurant Blog

Having this blog was a really great idea. It's gotten a lot of attention from a lot of people including the media. We've already been interviewed by Restaurant Business Magazine who was doing research on restaurants that blog. Supposedly he was only able to find only about 6 across the entire country that do and we're one of them.

Yesterday, we heard from a freelance reporter from TimeOut New York that wants to do a story on us. I have only one thing to say about that: "MOOMTAZ!!" (that means EXCELLENT in Arabic).

I've also heard from a lot of other entrepreneurs who have been inspired by this blog and from business owners who also get a lot out of reading it. File this under "Things That Make You Go, 'Hmmmm.'"

Tomorrow: The Kitchen

Tomorrow, the kitchen equipment is expected to arrive. This thing is really moving and it's really happening. I still can't believe it. It seems as if the whole thing is unfolding right before our very eyes kind of like a pop-up book. BUT-what it is is the manifestation of almost 3 years of planning, researching, a lot of hard work, determination and effort.

Shades of Fun! Novelty Sunglasses and Crystal Cell Phones

Shades of Fun! Novelty Sunglasses for all Occasion

In business, it's about who you know and who they might know and how we could possibly do business together and help each other out. My friend Marybeth is the owner of Shades of Fun. She also runs Crystal Cellphones for those who want some bling with their ring.

141 5th Avenue Bogota Bistro

Bogota Latin Bistro
141 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Subway information

Intoxicating

Opening up a new business, especially one's first restaurant, can be very intoxicating. Although we're swamped with so many "TTD's" (Things To Do)and at times it can seem very overwhelming trying to keep up and remember ALL the things that need to get done, the ideas that need to be implemented, the phone calls that need to be made, the people that need to be contacted, the follow-ups that need to be pursued, the bills that need to be paid, the dishes that need to be washed, the laundry that needs to be dropped off, the apartment that needs to be cleaned, the friends that need to be kept in contact with, the contractor and designers who we need to communicate with often, the furniture that needs to be purchased, the stains that need to be selected, the forms that need to be filled out, the potential employees that need to be contacted, the marketing ideas that need to be implemented, the help we need to continues asking for, not to mention making time to eat and sleep.... Oh, I could go on and on and on and on....

Exhilerating, exhausting, overwhelming but also very intoxicating.

Waiter Rant

Waiter Rant Blog

This guy has got some great tales from the front.